Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Waterbury, CT

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Waterbury-Shelton, CT

Median annual salary $35,080 +16.3% vs national
Median hourly $16.87
10th percentile $32,640
90th percentile $43,680
Employed locally 400
National median $30,160

Compare Cooks, Fast Food salary & buying power

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Cooks, Fast Food
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Waterbury, CT
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $32,640
    25th
    $32,640
    50th (median)
    $35,080
    75th
    $41,390
    90th
    $43,680

    Waterbury economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $86,365 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 41% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 59% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Fast Food

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,980
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $41,800
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $40,580
    Hawaii $40,300
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $39,260
    Napa, CA $39,210

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Fast Food salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    District of Columbia $38,350
    Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $37,250
    Connecticut $33,760
    Grand Junction, CO $33,480
    New Haven, CT $32,920
    Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $32,900

    Related occupations in Waterbury, CT

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $33,300
    Waiters and Waitresses $35,360
    Food Preparation Workers $35,490
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,960
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $48,400
    Dishwashers $34,060

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Fast Food make per hour in Waterbury?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Waterbury, CT is $16.87, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $17.96 or more per hour.

    Is Waterbury above or below average for Cooks, Fast Food salaries?

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Waterbury, CT is 16.3% above the national median of $30,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Fast Food in Waterbury?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $32,640 per year in Waterbury, CT. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $32,640.